Rising Electric Van Demand Spurs Continued Market Growth

10/09/2026 12:17 Share

Rising Electric Van Demand Spurs Continued Market Growth

Rising demand for electric vans helped the commercial vehicle industry to a strong UK sales performance in August, new data has revealed.

Though EVs still account for a relatively small portion of the UK van market – compared to dominant diesel models – zero emission commercial vehicles accounted for a record 16.3% share in August 2026.

It marks the ninth consecutive month that electric vans have increased their UK market share with much of this success being attributed to strong demand for the new Kia PV5 Cargo.

Going on sale in late 2025, the Korean giant’s first entry into the commercial vehicle market has been met with huge critical acclaim and multiple award wins.

In August, the PV5 ranked as the sixth best-selling van in the UK sales charts, the best monthly performance for a model that is sold exclusively with an electric powertrain.

It wasn’t the only EV to breach the top ten though with the Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo also featuring in ninth place after out-selling conventional favourites like the Renault Trafic, not to mention models within its own stable like the VW Crafter and VW Caddy.

Once more it was the Ford Transit Custom that continues to dominate UK commercial vehicle sales overall, the model ranking ahead of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Volkswagen Transporter in August.

Eight months into the year, the Transit Custom has a comfortable overall sales lead over the Ford Transit in second and the Sprinter in third.

The best-selling small van remains the Peugeot Partner in fifth place overall, while the Ford Ranger – despite a sharp drop in sales in the wake of changes to pick-up truck Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) regulations – is the best-selling flat bed in eighth.